Directions

1. Kote [kote] ye?

   Ko-te [ko-te] ye

   Where is [place]?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase for asking directions

   Grammar Note

   "ye" is a Haitian Creole copula for location/state; different from "se" (identity copula)

2. Ale tou dwat

   A-le tou dwat

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   The most common direction instruction

   Grammar Note

   "tou dwat" = "all straight" — "tou" is an intensifier meaning "completely"

3. Vire agòch

   Vi-re a-gòch

   Turn left

   Usage

   Instruct someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "agòch" = "a" (to) + "gòch" (left); "adwat" = right — prepositional direction phrases

4. Vire adwat

   Vi-re a-dwat

   Turn right

   Usage

   Instruct someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   Haitian Creole direction words derive from French: gauche → gòch (left), droite → dwat (right)

5. Mwen pèdi

   Mwen pè-di

   I am lost

   Usage

   Ask for help when you are lost

   Grammar Note

   Without a tense marker, context determines time — "mwen pèdi" means "I am lost" here

6. Konbyen tan pou mache ale la?

   Kon-byen tan pou ma-che a-le la

   How long does it take to walk there?

   Usage

   Ask about walking time to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "konbyen tan" = "how much time"; "pou" is a preposition meaning "to/in order to"

7. Èske gen yon machin pou ale la?

   Ès-ke gen yon ma-chin pou a-le la

   Is there a vehicle/transport to get there?

   Usage

   Ask about transportation options to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "machin" comes from French "machine"; in Haiti, shared minibuses called "tap-tap" are common

8. Ki adrès la?

   Ki ad-rès la

   What is the address?

   Usage

   Confirm the exact address of a destination

   Grammar Note

   "ki" is the interrogative "what/which" — question words in Haitian Creole come first

9. Parèy ak kote ou ye a

   Pa-rèy ak ko-te ou ye a

   It's in the same place as you are

   Usage

   Indicate that the destination is in the same area as the current location

   Grammar Note

   "ak" is the conjunction/preposition meaning "and/with" in Haitian Creole

10. Se devan magazen an

    Se de-van ma-ga-zen an

    It's in front of the store

    Usage

    Give directions using a store or building as a landmark

    Grammar Note

    "se" is the identity copula; "an" is the definite article (postposed) — articles follow nouns in Haitian Creole

11. Adwat

    Right

    Usage

    Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence

12. Agòch

    Left

    Usage

    Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence

13. Tou dwat

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence

14. Tounen dèyè

    Go back

    Usage

    When the driver has gone too far

15. Kanpe isit la

    Stop here

    Usage

    To have a driver pull over where you want

16. Nò

    North

    Usage

    To confirm a bearing against a map

17. Sid

    South

    Usage

    To confirm a bearing against a map

18. Lès

    East

    Usage

    To confirm a bearing against a map

19. Lwès

    West

    Usage

    To confirm a bearing against a map

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